Safety spring



Aug 31 1926. 1,598,480

E. E. DEAL SAFETY SPRING Filed August 1. 1923 Edmond E Deal.

' INVENTOR ATTO RN EY Patented 31, 1926.

l,598,4&0

EFEQE.

EDMOND E. DEAL, OF VJILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SAFETY SPRING.

This invention relates to spring devices, and more particularly to a safety spring especially adapted for supporting porch swings and similar structures.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a device of the character stated in which a spring under tension is employed for supporting the swing so as to ob tain maximum resiliency.

A further object is to provide simple and efficicnt means whereby dropping or falling of the swing is prevented in the event of breakage of the spring.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the device that the spring is at all times enclosed within a protecting casing so as to eliminate possibility of a persons fingers or clothing becoming caught in the spring.

Further objects will appear from the detail description.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved safety spring.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the spring.

Figure 3 is a view in elevation of the links per se and disposed at right angles to the links as shown in F ig. 2.

The device includes a suspending coil spring 1 which is provided at each end with a hook 2. lVithin this spring I position a link device 3 which includes two links 4 and 5, disposed at right angles to each other and inserted through each other so as to have sliding connection. Link 4 is provided at its outer end with an eye 6, link 5 being provided at its outer end with an eye 7, these eyes being formed by bending the terminal portions of the wire from which the links are formed, the wire being twisted together at 8 at the outer end of each link. The linksare normally positioned inside of the coiled spring 1 with the opposite ends 2 thereof formed at ri ht angles to each other and connected to the links outwardly of the twisted portions 8 thereof. In order to anchor the hooked ends 2 of the spring 1, to the links 4 and 5 adjacent the outer ends thereof, the said hooked ends of thesspring and the twisted portions 8 of the links 4 and 5 are embedded in substantially semispherical moulded collars 11 and 12. When so arranged, a pair of telescopically connected open ended tubular members 10 are passed over the coiled spring 1 enclosing the Application filed August 1 as. Serial no. 655.117.

connected links 4 and 5, and the moulded collars 11 and 12, thereon, and positioned intern'iediate the free outer ends 6 and 7 of the said connected links. The outer end of each of the said tubular members 10 is then spun inwardly on and over the major portion of the semi-spherical surface of the moulded collars 11 and 12 for retaining the connected links, coiled spring, and tubular members, in an enclosed operative relation, with the free outer ends 6 and 7 protruding at each closure end so formed by said tubular members and the moulded collars.

In practice, the suspending loop or chain for the swing is secured through one eye at one end of the device, the eye at the other end of the device being attached to the swing in any suitable or preferred manner. There will be, of course, as many of the devices as is desired used, preferably one at each corner of the swing.

By constructing the device in the manner illustrated and described, the spring 1 is placed under tension thus permitting maximum vertical movement of the swing so as to obtain maximum resiliency from the spring. lVhen the spring is extended or contracted, the sections 9 and 10 of the enclosing casing telescope and these sections are of sufficient length to at all th 18S enclose the spring thus effectually eliminating possibility of the fingers or clothing of a person sitting in the swing being caught in the spring. in the event of breakage of the spring, downward movement of the swing is positively limited by the links i and 5, these links providing a safety means to prevent dropping or falling of the swing in the event of breakage of the spring of the suspending device.

The device constructed in the manner illustrated and described, can be readily produced at very small cost and can be readily applied to porch swings of standard construction. in audition to providing resilient supporting means for the swing, the device also serves to positively prevent dropping or falling of the swing in the event or" breakage of the suspending springs, as above noted.

What I claim is In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of connecting links having an elongated eyelet formed at each of their inner ends, said links loosely connected by passing one of said elongated eyelets through the other of said eyelets at right angles thereto, the outer free ends of said connecting links twisted upon themselves adjacent the ends thereof and formed into a pair of oppositely disposed open hooked ends, a coiled spring passed over and enclosing said elongated eyelets, the end coils of said spring formed into laterally eX- tending hooked ends at right angles to each other and connected to the oppositely disposed inner twisted portion of said open hooked ends, the twisted end portions of said connecting links With the hooked ends of said coiled spring attached thereto, em-

bedded in substantially semi-spherical moulded collars, a pair of telescopically connected open ended tubular members positioned over said coiled spring moulded collars and the respective connected links intermediate the ends thereof, and the outer end of each of said tubular memb rs spun inwardly over the major portion of the semispherical surface of each of said collars for retaining said connecting links, coiled spring and tubular members in closed operative relation.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

EDMOND E. DEAL. 

